BIJAPUR: Three CRPF personnel including a Keralite died in an encounter with naxals, while a girl was killed after being caught in the crossfire, in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Friday, police said.

The gun-battle took place around 11 am close to a culvert near Keshkutul village when a team of the CRPF's 199th battalion was out on an area domination operation on motorcycles, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Divyang Patel said.

Two girls were caught in the crossfire. One of them died while the other was injured, police said.

The motorcycle-borne patrolling team was heading towards Bhairamgarh from its camp in Keshkutul, which falls under the Bhairamgarh police station area.

Three CRPF personnel -- assistant sub-inspectors O.P. Saju, P. Mahadeva and Madan Pal died in the gunfight.

During a search of the encounter spot, two pressure improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered, Patel said.

According to another police official, naxals looted an AK-47 rifle, its four magazines, one bulletproof jacket and one wireless set of security forces during the encounter.